Recent Advances in Intensified Ethylene Production—A Review

Steam cracking is a well-established commercial technology for ethylene production. Despite decades of optimization efforts, the process is, nevertheless, highly energy and carbon intensive. This review covers the recent advances in alternative approaches that hold promise in the intensification of ethylene production from hydrocarbon feedstocks ranging from methane to naphtha. Oxidative as well as nonoxidative approaches using conventional, chemical looping, membrane, electrochemical, and plasma-assisted systems are discussed. We note that catalysts, electrocatalysts, and/or redox catalysts play critical roles in the performance of these alternative ethylene production technologies. Meanwhile, the complexity…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Award: DE-EE0007888-05-6
• OO
  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

  Award: DE-AC07-05ID14517
• KI
  Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science
• DO
  Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems

  Award: CBET-1604605